Two 17-year-old boys were holding restaurant customers at gunpoint and demanding money when a man walked into the Salinas restaurant and shot the teens in the chest -- killing one, and critically injuring the other.

The incident began at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, when two teenagers armed with guns walked into a restaurant at 1590 North Sanborn Rd. in Salinas, police Sgt. Christopher Lane said.

There were several people dining inside Saltillo Tortilleria at the time. The 17-year-olds demanded money from the restaurant's patrons and owner while holding everyone inside the building at gunpoint, Lane said.

As the robbery was unfolding, a 36-year-old man drove up to the restaurant because he was supposed to pick up a friend who was eating inside Saltillo Tortilleria.

"A good Samaritan saw what was happening from outside the business," Lane said. "The good Samaritan retrieved a gun from his vehicle and went to help the victims inside. As the good Samaritan entered the business, (the good Samaritan) feared for the safety of the victims, and shot both suspects."

While suffering from life-threatening gunshot wounds, the two injured boys fled from the restaurant and were gone before emergency crews arrived, Lane said.

A half-hour later, someone drove the teenagers to Natividad Medical Center in a private vehicle. Hospital workers called the Salinas Police Department and told them that the two people they were looking for were at the hospital, 911 dispatchers said.

One of the teens was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital, Lane said. His name is not being released until his family is notified.

The 36-year-old man legally owned the gun that he used to kill the would-be robber, police said Friday. He also properly stored the gun in his car in accordance with California's gun laws, police said.

"Based on the facts of this case, including video surveillance footage of the incident, no charges are being sought against the good Samaritan at this time," Lane said.

The case will be handed to the Monterey County District Attorney's Office for review.

After one of the teenagers died at the hospital, a relative of the teen became distraught and starting shooting random cars that were parked on Mesquite Drive until he was arrested, police said.

Did the 36-year-old do the right thing by grabbing his own gun and taking action without calling 911?

"The perpetrators picked the wrong time and of course the wrong business to hit up," said Salinas resident Arex Antonio, who often eats at Saltillo Tortilleria.

"It's just unfortunate for everyone. But in the end, they got what they deserved," Antonio said.

Salinas police Cmdr. Dave Crabill said even though the 36-year-old killed a teenager, everything he did was legal.

"He is a person that has the legal right to carry a firearm and he did everything that he was supposed to. He possessed it and transported it in a legal fashion," Crabill said.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact the Salinas Police Department Investigations Division at 831-758-7226.